DRINKS CUP FOR PUBLIC USE

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a cup used to serve coffee, tea, milk and other similar drinks, particularly suitable to be used in public premises, in order to assure the maximum hygiene and avoid the danger of infections. The cup is constituted by a container (1) made of ceramic or other proper material, of any shape and dimension, and a waterproof film (4) of proper material, for example, plastic. The container (1) and the film (4) have particular technical devices (2, 5) in order to assure the film (4) irremovability during the use and the perfect adhesion of the same to the container surface.

Description: Description Drinks Cup for public use Technical Field The invention relates to a cup used to serve coffee, tea, milk and other similar drinks. This container must be used in public premises such as pubs, restaurants or communities and other places in which the said container is intended for several users; its purpose is to assure the maximum hygiene and avoid any danger of infection through the user's lips. It is well-known that the only security against possible infections which might be transmitted by using cups or glasses intended to contain drinks of any type, is to subject these containers to an effective washing or, much better, to a vapour sterilization process. The use of cups or glasses of plastic, in order to avoid transmissions of infectious diseases among users, causes, in the case of hot drinks, the loss of heat and the cooling of the drink. The use of such items may prove itself fastidious for who handles those fragile , flimsy containers, above' all when the drink is hot (for example, espresso coffee). Moreover, in a first-class premise, it is not very smart to serve drinks in cups or glasses made of plastic, even if hygienical purposes, since it damages the image of the premise itself. Disclosure of Invention The purpose of this invention is to provide a container for drinks, which may assure the maximum hygiene, avoid the loss of heat (in the case of hot drinks) through the user's hands, and, meanwhile, have a style and it may be made of prized material. For these purposes the invention solves this problem with the application to the container of a covering constituted by a throwaway film made of waterproof proper material, having the shape of its inside surface. The container and the throwaway film are made so that the throwaway film stays fixed to the container during the use and can be readily removed, subsequently. The invention solves the problem of guaranteeing the ready application of the mentioned film to the container inside surface, without forming air-pockets which prevent its adhesion and reduce its capacity. The invention is described in detail below, with the help of drawings illustrating particulars of the container and waterproof film. Brief Description of Drawings The following drawings relate to the application of the invention either to a coffee or a tea cup, but the same devices could be used on containers , whichever shape and dimension they have. In particular: picture No. 1 shows a coffee cup made according to this invention, on which a film of waterproof material is going to be inserted; picture No. 2 shows the cup to which the said film has been applied; picture No. 3 shows a section of a cup with the waterproof film; picture No. 4 shows a section of a tea-cup, according to the invention, without the waterproof film. According to this invention, the cup is a set of a container (1) and a film made of waterproof material (4), having the shape of the container inside surface. On its outside surface the container has a groove (2) parallel to the upper edge, distant one or two cm. from the edge itself (la). The groove (2) has such a dimension that it is able to lodge the semitoroidal section edge, which runs along the edge of the semitoroidal groove (5) of the film itself. On the bottom of the container (1) there is a vent-hole (3) , in order to facilitate both the film (4) application and its removing. When the semitoroidal groove is placed on the edge of the container keeps fixed to it. In accordance with the invention, the cups have any shape and dimension.

Claims: Claims 1. "Drinks Cup for public use", being characterized by a container (1) made of ceramic, porcelain, glass or other proper material of any shape and dimension, having a circular groove (2) parallel to its upper edge (la) and a hole (3) on the bottom, being combined with a waterproof film (4) made of proper material, for example, plastic, having the same shape of the container inside surface. 2. The cup of claim 1 wherein the film (4) has a semitoroidal groove, in the higher part, the upper edge (6) of which has a little edge (5) of such a section that it makes the film itself fixed to the upper edge (la) of the container. 3. The cup of claim 1 being characterized by a container (1) made of ceramic, porcelain, glass or other proper material, of any shape and dimension, being provided with a hole (3) on the bottom or any other similar device, in order to avoid the forming of air-pockets in the phase of the film insertion in the container. 4. The cup of claim 1 being characterized by a container (1) having a circular groove (2) which runs in parallel to its edge (la). 5. The cup of claim 1 being characterized by a film (4) of plastic or other proper material, having the shape of the container (1) inside surface in the lower part, and the shape of the container edge (la) in the higher part . 6. The cup of claim 1 in which the film (4) only is throwaway and this is readily inserted and removed.

Inventors: DE BELLIS DOMENICO, DE BELLIS FRANCESCO, DE BELLIS, DOMENICO, DE BELLIS, FRANCESCO
Applicants: BELLIS DOMENICO DE, BELLIS FRANCESCO DE, DE BELLIS, DOMENICO, DE BELLIS, FRANCESCO
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A47G19
IPC codes: A47G23